Christmas/New Year with the Queen

The last time we sailed with Cunard was just before QE2 was withdrawn from service. We loved QE2 and had high hopes that we would enjoy Queen Elizabeth just as much. Our ticket said embarkation was at 12 noon. We arrived just before 12 and embarkation was chaotic but once on board things settled down. The ship is beautiful, everything we expected. The cabin was fine and the cabin steward did his job. We didn't ask anything extra from him and we kept the cabin tidy. We were in the Britannia Club restaurant and the service was absolutely first class. We wondered if it was worth paying the extra to dine in the Britannia Club, as it had been pointed out by other members, we could dine daily in the Verandah Restaurant for less, but we had no regrets whatsoever and would book the Club again. Dining between 6.30 and 9pm and the extra choices was the clincher for us and the atmosphere in the restaurant was like being in a Club with other diners saying good morning or evening when you went in. Entertainment is very important to us and we love the production shows but were we disappointed. The Royal Court singers and dancers were awful (the worst we have ever experienced) as were the shows themselves. Whoever commissioned them should be sacked. What happened to the music of Cole Porter, Irvin Berlin and the other greats. Not a note from them! All the dancers did was run back and forth across the stage and jump in the air. The shows on P&O are far superior. The guest entertainers were a varied bunch and just fair although we loved the piano entertainer. Daytime activities were extensive. I enjoy playing Bridge (although not very good) and the Bridge instructor was first class.Although I had been warned beforehand the drinks on board are very expensive but we lived with that. We found the service around the ship to be very good. We were blessed with calm seas for the entire 14 days although it would have been nice to have seen more sun. Would we travel on the ship again? Well we have booked for Christmas again (made the booking prior to travelling Christmas just gone) but we are a little concerned about the entertainment and wondering what to do. The entertainment on QE2 was far superior especially New Year's Eve. I suppose we will go again as we loved the ship. Value for money? We enjoyed it, but that's up to others to decide.